No Dramatics for Tosh (Tosh, the team; G)
Title: No Dramatics for Tosh
Author: etharei
Rating: G
Timeline: near the end of "Exit Wounds" (213)
Spoilers: "Exit Wounds" (213)
Summary: At least Ianto won’t have to take her far.
Author's Notes: I asked my muses for short, they gave me introspective angst. Please note that I'm not planning or beta-reading any of these, so they're not at all polished.
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all the characters and situations featured therein are the property of Russell T. Davies, the BBC and their affiliates. I’m only borrowing them for purely non-profit, recreational purposes.
Written for: horizonssing, Day #20.
But I was in search of love in those days, and I went full of curiousity and the faint, unrecognized apprehension that here, at last, I should find that low door in the wall, which others, I knew, had found before me, which opened on an enclosed and enchaned garden, which was somewhere, not overlooked by any window, in the heart of that grey city.
- Evelyn Waugh,
Brideshead Revisited
No Dramatics for Tosh
by Etharei
Even when she is spreading out in a shy pool across the floor, when weakness and lightness steal the vital thrumming tension in her body, when there is no more breath to be drawn for voice, Tosh’s mind doesn’t cease its endless processing of data, codes, variables. Eventually it will realize that it’s as organic as the rest of her; in the meantime, she might as well let that quirky corner of her mind conjure up the designs of a last few technological patents.
TERMINATION IMMINENT. Life is funny, when one looks back at it near the threshold. She’s quite glad she hadn’t told Owen that she’ll be right behind him, since he might have gone a bit weird about her blood decorating the floor of his final working space. At least Ianto won’t have to take her far.
Definitely light-headed. All things considered, though, dying in the Hub after saving Cardiff from nuclear fallout is not a bad way to go. Not as dramatic as it could have been in Torchwood, but it suits her quietness, her dependability; and considering the people she’d loved who have died, she owes it to them to go out doing her job.
An honourable death. Her grandfather would be proud.
She hears voices, shouting her name. Loud boot-steps, familiar, and she lets go a little more, because Jack found a way back, he’ll take care of the others. Gwen’s here, too, and Ianto. Regrets, missed chances, but not too many.
No pain, except for Jack’s eyes, so much older now. She wonders where he went, and where he’ll go from here; that’s what he is to all of them.
Can’t speak. But they’re here to see her off. She wants to tell them she loves them, so much. She’d looked for love but she’d had it all along, here, in their little world beneath the ground.
Good thing she’d finished her special project. The time-lock is risky, untested, a final fail-safe. She’d created it, all by herself. A piece of her will stay behind to guard their home… that’s something.
Poor Jack. He’ll feel guilty about this. Good thing she made that video. And Ianto will take care of him.
But there’s also a spark of longing in his eyes, a glimmer of envy.
I wish you could come with me, too.
SYSTEMS SHUTTING DOWN. Quiet at last. But cold.
Force the warmth up. Can’t really see Jack anymore. But he’s there. And she’ll show him the way to die.
No dramatics for Tosh. Only love, and thanks. To the others,
Sorry guys. I’ll see you later.
Author: etharei
Rating: G
Timeline: near the end of "Exit Wounds" (213)
Spoilers: "Exit Wounds" (213)
Summary: At least Ianto won’t have to take her far.
Author's Notes: I asked my muses for short, they gave me introspective angst. Please note that I'm not planning or beta-reading any of these, so they're not at all polished.
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all the characters and situations featured therein are the property of Russell T. Davies, the BBC and their affiliates. I’m only borrowing them for purely non-profit, recreational purposes.
Written for: horizonssing, Day #20.
But I was in search of love in those days, and I went full of curiousity and the faint, unrecognized apprehension that here, at last, I should find that low door in the wall, which others, I knew, had found before me, which opened on an enclosed and enchaned garden, which was somewhere, not overlooked by any window, in the heart of that grey city.
- Evelyn Waugh,
Brideshead Revisited
No Dramatics for Tosh
by Etharei
Even when she is spreading out in a shy pool across the floor, when weakness and lightness steal the vital thrumming tension in her body, when there is no more breath to be drawn for voice, Tosh’s mind doesn’t cease its endless processing of data, codes, variables. Eventually it will realize that it’s as organic as the rest of her; in the meantime, she might as well let that quirky corner of her mind conjure up the designs of a last few technological patents.
TERMINATION IMMINENT. Life is funny, when one looks back at it near the threshold. She’s quite glad she hadn’t told Owen that she’ll be right behind him, since he might have gone a bit weird about her blood decorating the floor of his final working space. At least Ianto won’t have to take her far.
Definitely light-headed. All things considered, though, dying in the Hub after saving Cardiff from nuclear fallout is not a bad way to go. Not as dramatic as it could have been in Torchwood, but it suits her quietness, her dependability; and considering the people she’d loved who have died, she owes it to them to go out doing her job.
An honourable death. Her grandfather would be proud.
She hears voices, shouting her name. Loud boot-steps, familiar, and she lets go a little more, because Jack found a way back, he’ll take care of the others. Gwen’s here, too, and Ianto. Regrets, missed chances, but not too many.
No pain, except for Jack’s eyes, so much older now. She wonders where he went, and where he’ll go from here; that’s what he is to all of them.
Can’t speak. But they’re here to see her off. She wants to tell them she loves them, so much. She’d looked for love but she’d had it all along, here, in their little world beneath the ground.
Good thing she’d finished her special project. The time-lock is risky, untested, a final fail-safe. She’d created it, all by herself. A piece of her will stay behind to guard their home… that’s something.
Poor Jack. He’ll feel guilty about this. Good thing she made that video. And Ianto will take care of him.
But there’s also a spark of longing in his eyes, a glimmer of envy.
I wish you could come with me, too.
SYSTEMS SHUTTING DOWN. Quiet at last. But cold.
Force the warmth up. Can’t really see Jack anymore. But he’s there. And she’ll show him the way to die.
No dramatics for Tosh. Only love, and thanks. To the others,
Sorry guys. I’ll see you later.